Five Filipina victims of trafficking arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on Monday, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported on Thursday, Dec. 7.

In a press release, BI said that the five victims were reportedly detained for three months in Malaysia for being undocumented overseas workers. They were allegedly recruited to be waitresses through a Facebook post.

BI's probe revealed that they had separately departed for Kota Kinabalu via a ferry from Zamboanga, evading Immigration inspection.

The report said that their passports were not properly processed at the time of departure.

“The victims' ordeal serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in pursuing opportunities without proper documentation,” he said. “It not only jeopardizes individuals' rights and well-being while abroad, but also contributes to the prevalence of human trafficking,” BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said.

Upon their arrival, all five passengers received assistance from representatives of the NAIA Task Force Against Trafficking.